FOUR DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN
IRRATIONAL SUICIDE &
VOLUNTARY DEATH
SYNOPSIS:
Irrational suicide
differs from voluntary death in
four ways:
Irrational suicide is (1) harmful, (2)
irrational, (3) capricious, & (4) regrettable.
Voluntary death is (1) helpful, (2) rational, (3)
well-planned, & (4) admirable.
OUTLINE:
1. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH HARMFUL OR HELPFUL?
2. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH IRRATIONAL OR RATIONAL?
3. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH CAPRICIOUS OR WELL-PLANNED?
4. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH REGRETTABLE
OR ADMIRABLE?
CHOSEN DEATH AND THE LAW
FOUR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
IRRATIONAL SUICIDE &
VOLUNTARY DEATH
by James Park
1. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH HARMFUL OR HELPFUL?
HARMFUL
Irrational suicide is harmful to the victim.
When people kill themselves for any of the foolish 'reasons' we could
name,
they are definitely doing harm to themselves.
Even those who fail in attempting irrational suicide
later often realize that their deaths would have been harmful to
themselves
—and possibly harmful to many other people.
Before the rise of modern medical technology,
there was little need for such a concept as "irrational suicide"
because almost every time someone chose death,
it was an irrational,
self-harming act, which everyone wanted to
prevent.
Most of us can name a few people who committed
irrational suicide.
Don't we agree that they were harming themselves
when they shot or poisoned themselves or jumped off bridges?
Thus laws against committing suicide or assisting in
a suicide
did not have to specify that the self-killing was harmful and
irrational.
Almost all self-killings were harmful to the victim.
And virtually all were irrational—out of touch with reality.
HELPFUL
The new concept of "voluntary death" did not emerge
until it was needed,
which happened with the advent of modern medical technology,
which can keep a human body 'alive' for many months and even years
beyond the point at which natural death would have occurred in earlier
times.
In many cases, we are very glad that modern medical
care
can save us from most of the causes of death that befell our ancestors.
We can even sometimes replace a worn-out organ such as a heart
with a heart from another human being who has died from other causes.
But in a few cases, the life-supports created by
modern medicine
do not really help the patient.
Rather they merely prolong the process of dying.
Natural dying is often delayed by the machines of the Intensive Care
Unit.
Because of these modern developments,
we can ask whether the medical care itself
is really helping or harming the patient.
And if we decide after looking at all the medical facts and opinions
that death now would be better than death later,
then the choice of a voluntary death or a merciful death
is a genuine help to the patient.
And any other people who aid in making this a
peaceful and painless death
will know that they are genuinely helping the patient
more than they are doing harm to the patient or anyone else.
If the potential helpers have any doubts
about whether the proposed death would be harmful or helpful
they should resolve all such questions
before they proceed to help someone to die.
2. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH IRRATIONAL OR
RATIONAL?
IRRATIONAL
When others examine the alleged 'reasons' for an
irrational suicide,
they usually do not agree that death was the best solution.
People who are not overwhelmed by the temporary problem
are able to see more constructive solutions than committing irrational
suicide.
People who want to kill themselves because of the
collapse of 'love'
are temporarily out of touch with reality.
They falsely believe their lives are over because someone has rejected
them.
People whose minds are distorted by drugs or alcohol
sometimes 'decide' to kill themselves for various flimsy 'reasons'.
Once they recover from the mind-altering chemical,
they see reality in a new light and they lose the urge to kill
themselves.
RATIONAL
When others close to the person who is dying
also examine and understand all the facts, opinions, & options
that lead the him or her to choose a voluntary death,
they agree that death is the best option available.
Terminal illness is a common situation that can lead
to a voluntary death.
If and when we find ourselves with an incurable disease or condition,
and we have already tried all of the available methods for recovery,
then it is sometimes the wisest course to choose a voluntary death.
Instead of merely trusting our own sense of reality,
however,
we ought to ask for the help of others who care about us.
And we ought to seek a second or third medical opinion in some cases.
But if we come to a point where all agree that death
is inevitable,
then the most rational course of action might be
to stop medical treatments and life-supports
and to allow natural death to occur.
When there are no further values to be achieved by extending life,
then it is rational to select the most peaceful and painless pathway
towards death.
3. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH CAPRICIOUS OR
WELL-PLANNED?
CAPRICIOUS
Suicidal people are often responding to a sudden new
situation.
For example, right after being divorced by his wife, a man shoots
himself.
If he had been prevented from acting on the basis of his immediate loss,
he probably would be able to re-construct his life
without a spouse who has now rejected him.
But some people who commit irrational suicide
do spend considerable time planning how they will kill themselves.
However, they do not share their plans with other people
because they fear being prevented from committing irrational suicide.
Financial or academic failure might trigger a
temporary urge to kill oneself.
But if something allows the suicidal person to survive for a few more
days,
the irrational urge to commit suicide might pass.
Many people whose sudden impulse to kill themselves
was thwarted
later are grateful for the persons or circumstances
that prevented them from destroying themselves.
The temporary wish to be dead has disappeared.
And the one who once felt the urge toward irrational suicide
is now ready to continue living.
WELL-PLANNED
A voluntary death is well-planned.
In contrast to the capricious act of irrational suicide,
the person who is rationally choosing a voluntary death
might be engaged in the planning process for as long as a year.
He or she has philosophically favored of this choice for years.
But when the final factors tip the balance toward the choice of death,
the planning for the final months can be put into effect.
When terminal illness is the reason for choosing a
voluntary death,
there is often a rather long period of medical treatment
before it becomes clear that all possible methods of cure
are not ultimately going to prevent death.
Then in consultation with our medical advisors and
family members,
we can begin the process of choosing the best pathway towards death.
What things do we want to complete before the end of our lives?
What are the best ways to wind up our practical affairs?
Would it be best to distribute our assets before death?
What would be the best place to die?
What would be the best means to draw our lives to a close?
Obviously, such a planning process will involve
other people,
especially our medical helpers and our family members.
And if we are really operating under the influence of some delusional
system,
then others will discourage us from planning an irrational suicide.
But if and when all agree that death is
inevitable within a short period of time,
then all can become involved in the careful process of planning a good
death.
When careful discussion and planning leads to a
peaceful and painless death,
all will agree that it was a voluntary death and not an irrational
suicide.
4. IS THE CHOSEN DEATH REGRETTABLE
OR ADMIRABLE?
REGRETTABLE
Almost all others who knew the person who committed
irrational suicide
believe that it was an unfortunate, tragic choice.
And they all wonder how they could have prevented this
self-destructive
act.
The family and friends of someone who has committed
irrational suicide
often feel devastated, guilty, overwhelmed by the tragedy.
In the early years of the right-to-die movement,
the advocates of this right did not concern themselves very much
with the problem of irrational suicide.
They usually put the autonomy
of the individual above everything else,
which includes allowing people to kill themselves even for foolish
'reasons'.
And the methods-of-death advocated by the early
right-to-die movement
could be used by persons committing irrational suicide
as easily as by people who were choosing a rational voluntary death.
Opponents of the right-to-die did not have to look very hard
to find people who had committed irrational suicide
misusing the beliefs and methods of the right-to-die movement.
There are literally thousands of easy ways to kill
ourselves.
But if we want to prevent irrational suicides,
we should not publicize these methods
to people who might misuse them to commit irrational suicide.
Also, the right-to-die movement should be careful to
prevent
suicidal people from appropriating the cloak of respectability and
reason
that the right-to-die movement has attempted to create for itself.
When Jim Jones led his People's Temple cult into
mass suicide,
he encourage them to "die with dignity".
He claimed that it was some kind of political act.
But these acts of irrational suicide had nothing to do
with the right-to-die or with achieving a dignified death.
ADMIRABLE
A voluntary death takes everyone else's feelings
into account.
And when they know all the facts and opinions,
they admire rather than regret the choice for death.
Irrational suicides leave everyone else regretful.
Voluntary deaths elicit admiration and respect.
When we know about the planning and courage
needed for choosing a voluntary death or a merciful death,
we hope that we will have the same presence of mind
when we come to the end of our own lives.
We admire the foresight and planning
that went into choosing the very best pathway towards death.
The person who chooses a voluntary death or a merciful death
takes the thoughts and feelings of everyone involved into account.
And a rational plan is laid out in advance
for achieving the best possible death,
at the right time—not too soon and not too late—
and by the best means—the method that creates
the greatest possible meaning and dignity
in the eyes of all who will observer the last days.
When we learn about a truly voluntary death,
we are inspired to begin a similar process of planning for our own
deaths.
We cannot ultimately avoid death,
but we can begin to plan now for the best death we can achieve.
CHOSEN DEATH AND THE LAW
When the laws about suicide were written decades or
even centuries ago,
no attention was given to voluntary death as a wise way to end one's
life.
But as this concept becomes better known, new laws will be written,
modifying the old laws against suicide and assisting suicide.
Already the crime of committing suicide has been
removed from the law books.
But assisting a suicide is still a crime in most places in the world.
And whenever we are talking about self-killing
that is harmful, irrational, capricious, & regrettable,
the law should continue to discourage irrational suicide
and aiding such self-destructive behavior.
But when the chosen death is
helpful, rational, well-planned, & admirable,
the law should not discourage choosing a voluntary death.
It is a wise and compassionate way to end one's life.
And since we all must choose some pathway towards death
—or allow the crisis of dying to come upon us without choice—
why not consider the option
of having a well-planned, peaceful, & painless death?
Choosing a voluntary death is not irrational
suicide.
And all reasonable persons should agree to revise our laws accordingly.
How will you write the last chapter of your life?
Do you want the option of choosing a peaceful and painless voluntary
death?
revised 10-9-2005; 10-11-2005; 10-14-2005;
10-15-2005; 4-5-2007; 8-15-2007; 4-2-2009
History of Use: This essay was presented to
Compassion &
Choices of Minnesota
on October 16, 2005 by the author.
On this occasion the title was: "Voluntary Death is not Irrational
Suicide".
AUTHOR:
James Park is an independent existential philosopher
with deep interest in medical ethics,
especially the many issues surrounding the end of life.
Medical Ethics and Death are two of the seven doors
to his website called "An Existential Philosopher's Museum":
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/
Authors who support the right-to-die should avoid
the following four expressions
because they can easily be misused by the opposition
and because they create confusion in the minds of people in the middle:
"euthanansia"
"physician-assisted suicide"
"hasten"
"medication"
Click here for
some suggested alternatives.
Using careful
safeguards for making life-ending decisions
is an operational way of saying
"no" to irrational suicide
and "yes" to volunary death,
"no" to mercy-killing
and "yes" to merciful death.
Here are a few related cyber-sermons also by James
Park:
When Is A
Person?
Pre-Persons & Former Persons
.
The
One-Month-less Club:
Live Well Now, Omit the Last Month .
Taking Death in
Stride .
Pulling
the Plug:
A Paradigm for Life-Ending Decisions .
A New
Way to
Secure the Right to Die:
Laws Against Causing Premature Death .
Two
Approaches
to Right-to-Die Laws:
Granting Permission and Banning Harms .
Advance
Directives for Medical Care:
24 Important Questions to Ask
.
Fifteen
Safeguards
for Life-Ending Decisions
.
Four
Differences between Irrational Suicide and Voluntary Death
.
Four
Differences between Mercy-Killing and Merciful Death .
Four Legal
Means to Choose a Voluntary Death or a Merciful Death .
Voluntary Death
by Dehydration
.
The Living
Cadaver:
Medical Uses
of Permanently Unconscious Bodies .
Depressed?
Don't Kill
Yourself! .
Further Reading:
Best
Books on Voluntary Death
Best
Books on Preparing for Death
Books
on Terminal Care
Books on Helping People to Die
Best Books on
the Right-to-Die
Books Opposing
the Right-to-Die
Go to the Right-to-Die
Portal.
Go to the Book
Review Index
to discover 400 book reviews
organized into more than 40 bibliographies.
Return to the DEATH
page.
Go to the Medical Ethics
index page.
Go to other
cyber-sermons by James Park,
organized into 9 subject-areas.